Sir Anthony Hopkins is reportedly close to signing up to star in the latest James Bond movie.

According to The Sun, the Oscar-winning Silence Of The Lambs actor is in discussions about playing 007's nemesis in the spy series' 23rd instalment. Insiders have likened the part to recurring villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld from the early Bond pictures.

"The only stumbling block seems to be the number of films he is signing up for," a source said. "There is a chance the character they want him to play could become a regular feature, like Blofeld back in the day."

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Hopkins recently appeared in horror movie The Rite and can next be seen as Odin in Marvel adaptation Thor.